Drakes Bay Oyster Co. of Inverness is recalling its oysters after state health officials warned that the oysters might be contaminated with a bacterium that causes serious illness.

The Department of Public Health of California warned that some batches of shucked and in-shell raw oysters harvested by Drakes Bay Oyster Co. might be contaminated with Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria that cause diarrhea, vomiting, headaches, cramps, fever and chills.

While the affected shucked oysters are sold in jars and bear lot numbers ranging from 363 to 421, the affected in-shell oysters are sold either individually or in bags labeled with harvest dates from July 17 to August 8. Consumers who have any of the aforementioned oysters have been advised to throw them away.

A spokesperson for Drakes Bay Oyster Co. admitted that three cases of illnesses were reported on July 21, but added that the cases might or might not be linked to consuming the company's oysters.

The company's website states that retail sales on its farm would likely remain closed until Wednesday, when it expected to have results for the samples of its oysters that it sent to a lab.

The high risk groups include children, pregnant women, and the elderly with chronic illnesses and weakened immune systems. These groups can suffer severe illnesses and even death.